Today is 4/20, and you know what that means. (Or do you? We always forget.) One thing it means is that Art Inst., Ese, Big Gerb & the Bearded Bandidos and Secret Society are playing a show tonight at Walter's. Come hungry.

Houston House of Creeps is trying to raise enough money to buy a new PA, so they're throwing a party tonight with New York City Queens, Square and Compass, Deep Cuts, Featherface, Last 2 Weeks, Sunrise and Ammunition, DJs Beach Muscles and DJP and possible lasers. Damn good local bill. Donate here.

Also speaking of 4/20, Linus Pauling Quartet plays the first show in the pre-release campaign for upcoming LP Bag of Hammers and career-spanning Home Skool Recordz anthology at Rudyard's Saturday. Project Grimm and From Beyond join them.

Congratulations to longtime Houston R&B piano man Ezra Charles, who is throwing himself an engagement party Saturday night at the Capitol at St. Germain. Sign up for the email list on his Web site, and you can probably still get in on the two-for-one ticket deal he's offering.

It's the first weekend of the Houston International Festival, featuring Los Lonely Boys, Los Amigos Invisibles, Steel Pulse, Ruthie Foster, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, JJ Grey & Mofro, Galactic with the singer from Living Colour in tow, and more South American culture than you can shake a baston at. Gates open at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, and adult tickets start at $15.